HAMPSHIRE MPs have distanced themselves from reports that they could be in line for a bumper pay rise.

None of those who spoke to the Daily Echo would accept an award well in excess of the pay increases for other public sector workers, they said yesterday.

It comes amid reports that the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is considering setting a pay rise of around £7,500, taking an MP’s salary to £75,000.

The salary rise would only come into effect after the next General Election, in 2015.

John Denham (Lab, Southampton Itchen) urged IPSA to “listen to the public”

before awarding the pay hike.

He said: “The Commons should not accept it, not while teachers, nurses and others, including most private sector workers, are facing pay restraint.”

Caroline Nokes (Con, Romsey and Southampton North) said she would abstain in any vote about whether to overturn a recommended pay rise.

She explained: “I believe this is a matter for the independent body set up to make these decisions and MPs should have no say in this process whatsoever.”

Mike Thornton (Lib Dem, Eastleigh) said: “It’s inappropriate at the moment for MPs to take a pay rise of more than one per cent. It’s the wrong time.

“So whatever IPSA recommends, I would not take the pay rise. I will give that money to charities.”

Alan Whitehead (Lab, Southampton Test) said: “I’m happy with the salary I’ve got.

Right now, I wouldn’t expect MPs to have increases greater than one per cent for public sector workers.”

Steve Brine (Con,Winchester and Chandler’s Ford) said: “Bottom line is that, at a time when we’re having to impose pay restraint on the rest of the public sector, people would find this big pay rise for MPs impossible to understand. I think they quite rightly expect any rise for MPs to be judged in the light of the current climate of economic austerity.”

George Hollingbery (Con, Meon Valley) added: “Given the financial pressure that so many people face, I can’t think that now is time for a substantial rise. We need the cost of politics to be going down, not up.

“But we can’t duck the issue of MPs’ pay forever.There will never be a right moment for MPs pay to be increased and there will always be voices criticising such a move whenever it is proposed.”

Julian Lewis (Con, New Forest East), Mark Hoban (Con, Fareham) and Desmond Swayne (Con, New Forest West) were unavailable for comment.